You know your car’s going to be expensive. There’s no getting around it. Even older cars tend to be some of the most expensive assets you’ll ever own and the costs don’t stop once you have the car. Getting the best deal at the start means considering the lifetime of costs that will come with the car. So here are most of the major costs you need to navigate.

Get your money settled first

This is where you’re going to make the biggest dent in how much exactly you pay for the car, to begin with. Take the time to look at your credit and make any necessary repairs you can, such as removing errors from your report. Take your time scanning what different creditors are willing to offer. That’s how you get the best car loan deals. When you have the loan that works for you, you know exactly what range of car you can afford and how long it will take you to pay it off.

Beware the salesman

You might think you would get the best deal from a dealership. It’s in the name, after all. However, unless you’re prepared to be a savvy negotiator, it might be best to avoid them in total. They are more than happy to get you signing for extras that you could just as easily and more cheaply get elsewhere. To avoid getting ripped off, do your research on what you’re looking for beforehand and what prices those cars tend to go for, as well as which extras you’re likely to get offered and where to get a better deal on them.

Read the full original post here authored by Therese Gilbert. You can visit her blog here.